Amid a controlled Covid-19 situation in India, concerns have escalated following the emergence of the JN.1 subvariant, with the Centre issuing a crucial advisory to all states. Despite an active caseload of 1,828, a recent death in Kerala attributed to the JN.1 subvariant has prompted heightened vigilance nationwide.
The Ministry of Health has urged states to intensify monitoring and reporting of influenza-like illnesses in light of increasing Covid cases and the emergence of this subvariant. Emphasizing the need for vigilance at district levels, the Ministry highlighted the evolving nature of the virus in the Indian climate and the co-circulation of various pathogens.
Dr. NK Arora, chief of INSACOG, a network tracking genomic variants, clarified that the recent death in Kerala was not solely caused by the subvariant but was compounded by multiple underlying health conditions. INSACOG is diligently observing the situation, studying the virus’s epidemiology and clinical behavior.
With the festive season around the corner, the Centre emphasized the imperative of implementing robust public health measures to mitigate disease transmission risks. States have been directed to monitor and report influenza-like and severe acute respiratory illness cases across all health facilities at the district level regularly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also underscored the evolving nature of the virus and urged member states to sustain strong surveillance and genomic sequence sharing. In alignment with this, the Centre urged states to escalate RT-PCR testing and expedite the sequencing of positive samples through INSACOG laboratories to promptly identify any new variants.
Additionally, states have been encouraged to bolster community awareness initiatives as part of comprehensive measures to combat the spread of Covid and other respiratory diseases.
As India braces for potential challenges posed by the evolving virus and the festive season, a collaborative and vigilant approach has been advocated to monitor, report, and swiftly respond to any emerging Covid variants, ensuring the safeguarding of public health nationwide.
Sources By Agencies
